Kiwi plant named ‘SKELTON X78’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species  Actinidia chinensis  is described. The cultivar results from a controlled pollination using a male  A. chinensis  selection ‘RY,’ and a female  A. chinensis  selection ‘A124.’ Both named parents (‘RY’ and ‘A124’) are unpatented cultivars. The new cultivar is distinguished by its medium fruit size, ovoid fruit shape, greenish-yellow fruit coloring, and its medium harvest date in late April.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Genus and species of plant claimed: Actinidia chinensis.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority from New Zealand Plant Variety Rights Application, entitled ‘Skelton X78’ filed Dec. 22, 2006, with the Commissioner of Plant Variety Rights in New Zealand, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kiwi plants in cultivation are mainly varieties of A. deliciosa, particularly ‘Hayward’ although some A. chinensis and A. arguta varieties are grown. A. deliciosa and A. chinensis are closely related and varieties of both types have large fruit (about 100 g) with hair on the skin. The main varieties in New Zealand are ‘Hayward’ (A. deliciosa) and ‘HORT16A’ (A. chinensis). Fruit are usually cut and eaten with a spoon.

All Actinidia species are dioecious, so female varieties have to be interplanted with male pollinizers to ensure fruit production.

A. chinensis vines are deciduous and tend to grow vigorously in spring and summer when rapidly-growing shoots can intertwine and tangle if not managed. Vines do best in a mild warm-temperate climate without late spring or early autumn frosts. They produce consistently heavy crops when grown in well-drained fertile soils and given regular irrigation in dry spells.

A. chinensis flowers in late September to late October in New Zealand. Harvest of A. chinensis fruit occurs from late February to late June in New Zealand depending on the selection and location of plantings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinctive kiwifruit variety having a medium sized ovoid fruit shape, a vegetative bud break of mid-August, a flowering date of early October, and a fruit harvest date of early April. This new variety is designated ‘Skelton X78’ and is derived from a controlled pollination using a female A. chinensis selection ‘A124’ and a male A. chinensis selection ‘RY.’

Neither of the parents are registered with the Plant Variety Rights Office in New Zealand or patented. The parent plants are part of an ongoing breeding program established in New Zealand in 1975.

This new variety was created during the course of a planned plant-breeding program, which was initiated in Waiuku, New Zealand in 1994 and approximately 300 seedlings were raised at Rangiriri, New Zealand. ‘Skelton X78’ first flowered in 1999 and fruit were assessed in 2000. Following fruit assessment, ‘Skelton X78’ was grafted onto three Actinidia deliciosa seedling rootstocks and onto three Actinidia chinensis seedling rootstocks. The unique characteristics of ‘Skelton X78’ continued and the asexually reproduced plants were true to type.

The new variety can be asexually reproduced as cuttings or by grafting or budding on to seedling or cutting-grown rootstocks of A. deliciosa or A. chinensis, or by striking cuttings, or by tissue culture. Trial plantings of grafted plants established in Rangiriri, New Zealand in 2000 have shown that the unique combination of characteristics, observed with the first mature fruit of 2000, come true to form, are established, and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. The photographs included were taken in April 2006 and are of plants grafted in July 1999.

‘Skelton X78’ flowers a week to two weeks earlier than ‘HORT16A’ and the fruit reaches maturity in late April several weeks earlier than ‘HORT16A’ which reach maturity in early May.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio;

FIG. 2 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the orchard;

FIG. 3 shows fruit of the new variety in cross-section;

FIG. 4 shows typical fruit of the parent female A124 species in the studio and in cross-section;

FIG. 5 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio compared with other varieties, in order: ‘A1’; ‘Skelton A19;’ ‘Skelton A16;’ and ‘Skelton X78;’ and

FIG. 6 shows typical fruit of the new variety in the studio compared with other varieties in cross-section, in order: ‘A1’; ‘Skelton A16;’ ‘Skelton A19;’ and ‘Skelton X78.’

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST VARIETY

The distinctive characteristics of ‘Skelton X78’ were first observed with the first fruit maturing in 2000. The distinctive characteristics of this new Kiwi variety, described in detail below and shown in the accompanying photographs, were observed in April 2006 at Rangiriri, New Zealand. The age of the plants was approximately six years from grafting onto seedling rootstocks.

Comparison with the similar variety ‘HORT16A’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066) shows that ‘Skelton X78’ may be distinguished as follows in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison With Similar Variety. Observations made under New Zealand Growing Conditions Characteristic HORT16A X78 FRUIT Harvest Date Early May Late April Color of Ripe Medium yellow Greenish yellow (5C) Pericarp (12C/12B) Skin Color Yellow-brown 199B Yellow-brown 199B Mean Fresh Weight 43-176 grams 67-93 grams Mean Dry Matter at 18% 15.5% Harvest Average Length 79.1 mm 75.0 mm Average Width 51.1 mm 46.0 mm Core Diameter 12.4 mm 12.0 mm Width/Length Ratio 0.65 0.65 Sweetness (Brix) at 15.6% 15.8% maturity for consumption General Shape Ovoid Ovoid Cross sectional Circular Circular shape Shape at Stylar End Strongly blunt protruding Slightly blunt protruding Skin: Hairiness Present Present/downy VINE Shoots: Color 144B 144B Texture Smooth Smooth Stem: Colour-upper 177A 165A Colour-lower 199A 199A Mean diameter 9.5 mm 9.0 mm Texture Smooth Smooth Lenticel (if present) Present Present LEAF: Colour-upper 147A 144A Colour-lower 148B 144B Shape Orbiculate Broadly Orbiculate Length 124 mm 146 ± 15.9 mm Width 151 mm 147 ± 21.7 mm Apex Acute Acuminate Base Cordate Cordate Margin Ciliate Ciliate Texture Glabrous Glabrous FLOWER Inflorescence: Predominant 3 3 number of flowers Petiole: Length 103 mm 70.8 ± 11.9 mm Colour 145B 182B Pedicel: Length 27.1 mm 38 mm Colour 151A 145A Hairs Present Present Length of hairs Very short Very short Flower: Coloration of petals Bi-coloured Bi coloured Primary Colour White 155B White 155C Secondary colour Green 144D Green 145B base of petal Diameter 51 mm 51 mm Arrangement of Overlapping Overlapping Petals Mean number of 6 7 petals/flower Mean length of 28.8 mm 23.6 mm petals Mean width of 23.9 mm 18.8 mm petals Petal ratio of length 1.21 1.25 to width Petal shoulder Present Present Filament colour Green/White 157A Green/White 157A Anther colour Yellow 16C Burnt orange 17A Attitude of styles Semi erect Semi erect Curvature of styles Absent Absent Colour of styles White 155D White 155A Amount of hair on Dense Dense ovary Colour of ovary White 157B White 157A Number of sepals 6-7 6-8 Colour of sepal Green 148D Green 148C Length of sepals Range 8.7-12.4 mm 9.5-13.8 mm Mean 11.4 mm 11.2 mm Sepal diameter 9.1 mm 4.9 mm Flower Opening Mid October Early October Vegetative bud Early September Mid August break Plant/fruit disease & None None pest resistance Plant hardiness zone Not Known Not known or heat/cold resistance Color references are in accord with the R.H.S. Colour Chart, the Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2001

The most striking differences between ‘Skelton X78’ and ‘HORT16A’ are the dates of vegetative bud break, flower opening, and the date of fruit maturity. ‘Skelton X78’ has a vegetative bud break in mid-August several weeks earlier than ‘HORT16A.’ ‘Skelton X78’ flowers open earlier than ‘HORT16A’ in early October, in comparison to mid October. In addition, the harvest dates of ‘Skelton X78’ are approximately two weeks prior to that of ‘HORT16A’ in late April instead of early May. 

1. A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species A. chinensis substantially as herein described and illustrated. 